Joshua A. Grochow

About Me

I am a second-year Ph.D. candidate in Computer Science at The University of Chicago, where I am a member of the Theory Group. I also have a strong and abiding interest in pure mathematics. In addition, I am interested in theoretical physics, as well as applications of these abstract topics to more worldly pursuits, such as biology, energy, and the environment.

Research Interests

Interactions between pure mathematics and theoretical computer science. Computational complexity, Kolmogorov complexity (algorithmic information theory), information theory, cryptography, coding theory, theory of quantum computing, algebraic algorithms.

Applications of computer science and mathematics, particularly to biology, energy, and the environment. Computational and systems biology.

Complex systems, self-organizing systems, multi-agent systems, emergence, complexity, network science.

Group theory, algebra, geometric group theory (automatic groups, etc.), graph theory, algebraic topology and applications thereof.

Publications

Grochow, J. A. and Kellis, M. Network motif discovery using subgraph enumeration and symmetry-breaking.
In RECOMB 2007, Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics 4453, pp. 92-106. Springer-Verlag, 2007. (pdf) (doi)

Grochow, J. A. On the structure and evolution of protein interaction networks.
Master's thesis, M. I. T., 2006. Advisor: Prof. Manolis Kellis (pdf)
(This thesis won the Charles and Jennifer Johnson Thesis Award.)

Research Experience

Kellis Lab for Computational Biology, M. I. T., under Professor Manolis Kellis. (Sep 2006-Sep 2007)
Research Experience for Undergraduates at the Department of Mathematics, Louisiana State University, under Professor Helena Verrill. (Summer 2003)
Amorphous Computing Group, M. I. T., under Professors Gerald J. Sussman, Hal Abelson, and Radhika Nagpal. (Summer 2002)

Education

M.Eng. Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2006
S.B. Computer Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2006
S.B. Mathematics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2005

Teaching Experience

The University of Chicago

Lab Instructor, CS 106: Fundamentals of Computer Programming II (C++), Winter 2007 and Winter 2008
Teaching Assistant, CS 271: Discrete Mathematics, Autumn 2006 and Autumn 2007
Teaching Assistant, CS 154: Introduction to Computer Systems, Spring 2007

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Teaching Assistant, 18.510: Introduction to Set Theory and Logic, Fall 2004
Tutor, Mathematics Department (calculus, differential equations, abstract algebra), Spring 2004
Grader, 18.01: Calculus I, Fall 2003

Awards

Finalist, Hertz Foundation Graduate Fellowship 2007
Charles and Jennifer Johnson M.Eng. Thesis Award

Resume

Please e-mail me for a copy of my resume.